TheUDD has demanded three members of the Privy Council and Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva step down within 24 hours.
Thousands of protesters march from Government House to the Si Sao Thewes home of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda to press him to resign as president of the Privy Council. THITI WANNAMONTHA
The announcement came as thousands of protesters rallied outside the home of Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda.
Between 80,000 and 100,000 protesters marched from their main rally site outside Government House where they have been rallying since March 26.
Earlier in the day the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship issued a statement, calling on Gen Prem, Surayud Chulanont and Charnchai Likitjitta to resign from the Privy Council to protect the institution's dignity.
The group accused the three of interfering in politics and plotting the 2006 coup which toppled the Thaksin government.
They urged Mr Abhisit to resign and demanded the national administration proceed under the constitutional monarchy. Any reforms should be discussed by "well-established defenders of democracy".
UDD core leader Veera Musikhapong said the three privy councillors had violated the charter by supporting the coup and broken their oath to maintain the constitution.
"Even kindergarten children know they went back on their word," Mr Veera said. "We demand they resign from their dignified positions."
The crowds grew bigger over the course of the afternoon as more protesters poured in. Traffic in the area near Government House and Gen Prem's home came to a standstill and several roads were closed.
At one point, the crowd swelled to 100,000, security sources said.
The UDD set up a stage outside Gen Prem's home. Its leaders took turns criticising him for interfering in politics to the cheers of demonstrators who rattled heart- and foot-shaped clappers. Hundreds of police were deployed outside Gen Prem's home. Inside a dozen soldiers were said to be on guard while 200 others were situated at the Army Club.
Gen Prem reportedly remained inside. A close aide said he heard the UDD criticisms and shrugged them off as "lies".
Deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra last night phoned in to extend moral support to the demonstrators and asked them to stay put for three more days.
"Tell your children to come," he told the crowd. "There is something here. Stop going to the mall for a couple of days and lay the foundation for future generations.
"I do not care whether I can return, I do not care. I cannot allow the country to go on like this.
"Let me be the last victim of the brutality of the bureaucratic polity."Thaksin also spoke in English to appeal to the international media, saying the fight was not about him but about the country and democracy for the people and future generations.
Mr Abhisit yesterday rejected calls for him to resign and lashed out at the UDD for their flip-flop demands, saying they first called for a House dissolution and then his resignation.
Mr Abhisit insisted there was no need to declare a state of emergency as the government has no plans to use force against the protesters.
"This is the way of democracy, the way those in power treat those who make demands," he said.
In a related development, the Foreign Ministry has sent an English translation of last year's Supreme Court guilty ruling in the abuse of authority case against Thaksin to foreign embassies to seek cooperation in preventing him from using their countries to attack Thailand, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said.
He said the ministry had told the countries Thaksin was a fugitive and sought their cooperation in negotiations for his extradition.
The ministry has also cooperated with police and the Office of the Attorney-General in coordinating with Interpol.
Mr Kasit said there was progress in negotiating Thaksin's extradition from the United Arab Emirates, where he is believed to be living.
"I have told many countries that I don't want any country to allow Thaksin to use their land to attack Thailand or give him a passport," he said.
"The country must think whether it will love Thaksin rather than Thailand."
Source: Bangkok Post
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